Isaiæ 21
1 Onus deserti maris. [Sicut turbines ab africo veniunt, de deserto venit, de terra horribili.
The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds come from the south, it cometh from the desert from a terrible land.
2 Visio dura nuntiata est mihi: qui incredulus est infideliter agit; et qui depopulator est vastat. Ascende, Ælam; obside, Mede; omnem gemitum ejus cessare feci.
A grievous vision is told me: he that is unfaithful dealeth unfaithfully: and he that is a spoiler, spoileth. Go up, O Elam, besiege, O Mede: I have made all the mourning thereof to cease.
3 Propterea repleti sunt lumbi mei dolore; angustia possedit me sicut angustia parturientis; corrui cum audirem, conturbatus sum cum viderem.
Therefore are my loins filled with pain, anguish hath taken hold of me, as the anguish of a woman in labour: I fell down at the hearing of it, I was troubled at the seeing of it.
4 Emarcuit cor meum; tenebræ stupefecerunt me: Babylon dilecta mea posita est mihi in miraculum.
My heart failed, darkness amazed me: Babylon my beloved is become a wonder to me.
5 Pone mensam, contemplare in specula comedentes et bibentes: surgite, principes, arripite clypeum.
Prepare the table, behold in the watchtower them that eat and drink: arise, ye princes, take up the shield.
6 Hæc enim dixit mihi Dominus: Vade, et pone speculatorem, et quodcumque viderit annuntiet.
For thus hath the Lord said to me: Go, and set a watchman: and whatsoever he shall see, let him tell.
7 Et vidit currum duorum equitum, ascensorem asini, et ascensorem cameli; et contemplatus est diligenter multo intuitu.
And he saw a chariot with two horsemen, a rider upon an ass, and a rider upon a camel: and he beheld them diligently with much heed.
8 Et clamavit leo: Super speculam Domini ego sum, stans jugiter per diem; et super custodiam meam ego sum, stans totis noctibus.
And a lion cried out: I am upon the watchtower of the Lord, standing continually by day: and I am upon my ward, standing whole nights.
9 Ecce iste venit ascensor vir bigæ equitum; et respondit, et dixit: Cecidit, cecidit Babylon, et omnia sculptilia deorum ejus contrita sunt in terram.
Behold this man cometh, the rider upon the chariot with two horsemen, and he answered, and said: Babylon is fallen, she is fallen, and all the graven gods thereof are broken unto the ground.
10 Tritura mea et filii areæ meæ, quæ audivi a Domino exercituum, Deo Israël, annuntiavi vobis.]
O my thrashing and the children of my door, that which I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared unto you.
11 Onus Duma. [Ad me clamat ex Seir: Custos, quid de nocte? custos, quid de nocte?
The burden of Duma calleth to me out of Seir: Watchman, what of the eight? watchman, what of the night?
12 Dixit custos: Venit mane et nox; si quæritis, quærite; convertimini, venite.]
The watchman said: The morning cometh, also the night: if you seek, seek: return, come.
13 Onus in Arabia. [In saltu ad vesperam dormietis, in semitis Dedanim.
The burden in Arabia. In the forest at evening you shall sleep, in the paths of Dedanim.
14 Occurrentes sitienti ferte aquam, qui habitatis terram austri; cum panibus occurrite fugienti.
Meeting the thirsty bring him water, you that inhabit the land of the south, meet with bread him that fleeth.
15 A facie enim gladiorum fugerunt, a facie gladii imminentis, a facie arcus extenti, a facie gravis prælii.
For they are fled from before the swords, from the sword that hung over them, from the bent bow, from the face of a grievous battle.
16 Quoniam hæc dicit Dominus ad me: Adhuc in uno anno, quasi in anno mercenarii, et auferetur omnis gloria Cedar.
For thus saith the Lord to me: Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Cedar shall be taken away.
17 Et reliquiæ numeri sagittariorum fortium de filiis Cedar imminuentur; Dominus enim Deus Israël locutus est.]
And the residue of the number of strong archers of the children of Cedar shall be diminished: for the Lord the God of Israel hath spoken it.
